(Click on each section header to open (or to close) items in that section)

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Perhaps the best indicator of front office carelessness pops up in the case of goalie John Davidson, who injured his left knee in the last game of the semifinal against the Islanders but did not undergo surgery until August 10. Now some caution in this matter is understandable, since Davidson already had one surgical repair on the knee and another operation - even if it is on the other side of the kneecap - could weaken the knee as much as help it. Still, it was wondrous the decision was made so late. Either he needs an operation or he doesn't. And the timing (just five weeks before training camp is when most of the healthy players start getting ready) is certain to keep Davidson away from the ice for at least the start of the pre-season. (The Hockey News [1979-]1980 Yearbook, p. 28)

TRANSACTIONS:

Drafted (from Calgary Centennials) by St. Louis Blues in first round (fifth overall) of 1973 National Hockey League amateur draft.

Traded by Blues (with Bill Collins) to New York Rangers for Jerry Butler, Ted Irvine and Bert Wilson, June 1975.

ACCOLADES:

Winner, Alberta Junior Hockey League Most Valuable Player Award, 1970-71.

Named to Alberta Junior Hockey League Second All-Star team, 1970-71.

Winner, Alberta Junior Hockey League Leading Goalie Award, 1970-71.

Winner, Western Canadian Hockey League Most Valuable Player Award, 1971-72.

Winner, Western Canadian Hockey League Leading Goalie Award, 1971-72.

Named to Western Canadian Hockey League First All-Star team, 1971-72.

Named to Western Canadian Hockey League First All-Star team, 1972-73.

INJURIES:

Missed part of season with injured right knee, 1973-74.

Suffered fractured left fibula, January 4, 1976. 14:19 into the final period of the Rangers' 8-6 loss to Toronto, Davidson was taken from the ice on a stretcher and brought to Lenox Hill Hospital for treatment.

Sprained right knee, December 12, 1976. At 4:24 of the second period, Gilles Gratton replaced Davidson in the Rangers' net.

Left game with head injury, April 3, 1977. Late in the Rangers' 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders, Davidson was struck in the temple by a Bob Nystrom slapshot, and was taken to the hospital for precautionary X-rays. Gilles Gratton finished the contest.

Suffered pulled hamstring in left leg, February 21, 1979. Davidson finished the game, a 7-3 win over St. Louis.

Suffered stretched ligaments in left knee, May 8, 1979. Davidson played the entire Stanley Cup Finals with the injury before revealing it to the media. "It didn?t hamper me at all but there was a fluid build-up. The doctors didn't want to drain it because that can cause problems."

Missed start of 1979-80 season while recovering from knee surgery. Davidson did not appear in the Rangers' net until October 24.

Left game with chin injury, January 6, 1980. With five minutes left in the second period, Davidson was hit on the mask by a shot, and was replaced by Steve Baker.

Left game with chin injury, January 6, 1980. Davidson was replaced by Steve Baker with five minutes remaining in the second period, after being struck under the chin by a shot off the stick of Jean Pronovost.

Left game with contusion of left Achilles tendon, March 16, 1980. Davidson had to be helped from the ice with 1:36 remaining in New York's 5-2 win over St. Louis, and was replaced by Steve Baker.

Strained right shoulder, October 1980.

Injured left knee, November 22, 1980. Davidson underwent surgery on November 27 at Lenox Hill Hospital.

DID YOU KNOW?

Davidson was a left wing until the age of fifteen, before switching to goal. (Montreal Gazette, February 8, 1974)

John was the first goaltender selected in the 1973 NHL amateur draft, fifth overall to the St. Louis Blues.

In 1973-74, John spent the entire season with the St. Louis Blues, making him the first player to move directly from junior hockey to the National Hockey League and spending the full season there without any minor league experience.

On December 14, 1974, John engaged New York Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin in a skirmish. When Davidson's counterpart jumped on the back of Claude Larose, Davidson raced the length of the ice to pile on top of Giacomin. Davidson only received a minor penalty for his role (Giacomin was given a game misconduct).

During the 1977-78 season with the New York Rangers, Davidson switched from his customary #30 to wear #00. When the Rangers acquired Phil Esposito from Boston, his customary #7 was worn by Rod Gilbert, so Esposito chose #77 and talked his goaltender into selecting a similar double number. Davidson wore the #00 for one season in Manhattan before switching back to #30.

John considers getting to the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals his most indelible hockey moment as a player.

John is an avid golfer, and plays with Ron Greschner and Bryant Gumbel often. (Online interview with ESPN's John Buccigross, May 20, 2002)

Game logs have been compiled using the best information that I can find; for a detailed list of known concerns, please click here. I am always looking for assistance in making these more accurate, and welcome your help. For the 1983-84 season and prior, one of my key sources was the Hockey Summary Project, a tremendous resource and one of the best data collections on the Internet. In return, I have attempted to make these data better where possible.